Guadalupe Mountains National Park is the home of 8,749' tall Guadalupe Peak. That elevation makes it the highest point in Texas and a very popular destination in the Lone Star State! There is a beautifully constructed trail that travels right from the park's main trailhead all the way to the summit.

Located near the Chisos Basin Visitor Center, the Lost Mine Trail is a perfect opportunity to escape the heat and ascend into the higher elevations. The trail ends on the crest of an exposed ridge, offering incredible 360-degree views. Lost Mine Peak can be seen to the northwest and towers above 7,400 feet. Legend has it that early explorers discovered an ore body atop the peak while searching for silver and gold.

The Santa Elena Canyon Trail offers spectacular riverside views at the mouth of a canyon. This is considered one of the easier hikes in Big Bend National Park, but the rewarding views are absolutely incredible! Note that trail isn't accessible during times of high water.

Whether you are simply passing through or making Palo Duro the destination of your travels, the Lighthouse Trail is the must-do hike in the canyon. Vibrant red rock formations and sandy washes lead the way to a commanding view from just below the iconic "lighthouse" formation, Castle Peak visible just across the wash.

While the majority of Guadalupe Mountains National Park hikers aim for the summit of Guadalupe Peak, a lucky few head in the opposite direction to summit Hunter Peak. This 11-mile loop route begins at the same trailhead as its famous counterpart but provides starkly different views and lots of solitude.

Seminole Canyon State Park is a hidden gem in the massive Texas State Parks system. Seminole Canyon is situated directly on the banks Rio Grande, which forms the US/Mexico border. While this isolated park might be small, it boasts incredible beauty and history. Seminole Canyon was primarily designated as a state park to protect pictographs left by early canyon dwellers. There are over 200 different pictograph sites in the park!

There are few roadside day hikes in the desert southwest that begin and end on a 4-lane highway, and this is one you cannot pass up! Whether you call El Paso home, are just driving through, or there for work, this hike is one of the best ways to stretch your legs and earn views from the cities highest point - South Franklin. The Window and The Mammoth are both excellent trailside destinations, even if you don't have the time to reach the official summit.

This 6.6-mile loop through McKinney Falls State Park is designed to maximize the best trails found in the park. The singletrack at McKinney Falls is almost all buttery-smooth trail that follows narrow strips of dark black dirt, interrupted by the occasional block of limestone. At this length, and with such smooth trails, this is a beautiful yet mostly-flat hike within Austin's city limits.

Closed Canyon is a gorgeous slot canyon cut by a seasonal stream through the upthrust plateau of Colorado Mesa. The slot canyon cuts from Highway 170/River Road, which provides easy access through Big Bend Ranch State Park, all the way down to the Rio Grande far below. This short, easy hike is one of the most popular hikes in Big Bend Ranch State Park, thanks to both its incredible beauty and its easy access.

Opened in 1993, this Rails-to-Trails project is one of the only long-distance hiking or biking trails in West Texas. Following an old railroad grade, it weaves in and out of remote farmlands and red-dirt canyons, passing through one of the state's only remaining railroad tunnels.